Sports: 2nd Edition, C'River First Lady's Queen's Cup Tournament kicks-off in Calabar
Hannah ARIKPO
The second edition of the Queen's Cup Tournament, an initiative of the Wife of the Governor of Cross River state, Rev. Mrs. Eyoanwan Itam Bassey Otu has kicked - off at the U. J. Esuene sports stadium on Wednesday April two, 2025.
The competition which will take - off simultaneously in Calabar and Ikom zones across the state, will feature twelve all indigenous female teams and will last between April two - April ten, 2025, as part of activities to mark the Governor's wife's birthday on April ten.
Unical Malabresses versus De Ashely AFC played the opening match for group "A" at the Calabar Sports Stadium by 4pm Wednesday April two while the match between Bekwara Queens FC and Yala Queens FC opened the competition in group "B" playing at Ikom township stadium same date and time.
Champions of the tournament will receive one million naira (₦1,000,000), runners- up five hundred thousand naira (₦500,000) while the bronze medalist will take home three hundred thousand naira (₦300,000)
Speaking to the Beagle News Correspondent, the Senior Special Adviser to the Cross River state Governor on Sports Development, Hon. Ettah Lawrence, disclosed that the 2024 edition of the tournament being the first, featured six teams, four from Cross River, one team from neighbouring Akwa Ibom and the other from Imo states fully funded by the Governor's wife initiative, the Queen's foundation.
"The Queen's Cup competition is a platform carved out from the Governor's wife NGO, the 'Queen's foundation' designed to Carter for the Aged, Widows, Orphans, Vulnerable and less privileged in the society it was initiated to accord the Girl-Child a meaningful life, take her out of the streets as well as give her a brighter future through sports", he explained.
Ettah who doubles as the State Coordinator, Market Women forum disclosed plans to officially flag off the forum with the unveiling of the Market women micro finance Bank in Calabar, another booster from the first lady of Cross River state to enhance the economic emancipation of women.
According to him, the launching of the forum will draw experts from Canada to assist women Enterprenuers establish and sustain their businesses as it offers opportunity for the empowerment of market women who have been so marginalised over the years by past administrations in the state.
The Governor's wife's birthday will also be climaxed with a novelty football match between Ogoja market women and Ikom market women. Last year's birthday football match fielded Marian market women versus Watt market women
Twelve teams competing for the Queen's Cup Tournament include - Unical Malabresses, De Ashely AFC, Odukpani Queens FC, Diamond Queens FC, Kinetics FC and Pelican Stars FC forms the group A while the Bekwara Queens FC, Yala Queens FC, Boki Amazons FC, Limei FC, Obubra Queens FC and Abi Queens FC are under group B.
